Lana Wachowski

One half of the fraternal filmmaking duo known as the Wachowski Brothers, Larry Wachowski and sibling Andy were the creative minds behind the "Matrix" trilogy (2000, 2003), one of the most imaginative...
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The Matrix is one of the most iconic movies released in the past 20 years. We may think we know everything there is to know about the sci-fi classic, but, like Neo, we haven't even begun to learn all there is to know. Below are 21 facts you probably never knew about the movie:
1. The Wachowskis risked the film's entire budget just to make it the way they wanted.
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The original budget that the Wachowskis pitched Warner Bros. was over $80 million. Warner gave them $10 million, so they used all of it on the opening sequence with Trinity. The opening scene impressed executives at Warner so much when they showed it, they green-lit the original budget.
2. The film differentiates the Matrix and the real world through color.
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The scenes that take place within the Matrix are tinted green; those that happen in the real world have more of a normal coloring. The fight scene between Neo and Morpheus has a yellow tint, since it takes place in neither.
3. Keanu actually climbed out the window without a stuntman.
During the phone conversation between Neo and Morpheus within the MetaCortex offices, Morpheus instructs Neo to go through the window. Keanu did this himself without the aid of a stunt double, 34 stories in the air.
4. The helicopter scene almost caused the film to be shut down.
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They flew the chopper through restricted airspace in Sydney, Australia. Laws in New South Wales had to be changed in order to let The Matrix proceed with filming.
5. Which might explain why the Morpheus' rescue took six months to prepare and plan.
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6. The Wachowskis worked on their vision for the movie for five and a half years.
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The final product, arrived after working through 14 screenplay drafts, took up 500 storyboards.
7. Morpheus, in Greek mythology, is the god of dreams.
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Which is ironic, since he's the man who wakes people from their dream states and introduces them to reality.
8. Keanu Reeves only has 80 lines in the first 45 minutes of the film.
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Of those 80 lines, 44 are questions. That's over his half his dialogue, and it amounts to about one question per minute.
9. All of the color blue was removed from the exterior shots.
The idea behind this was that it would make the outside world of the Matrix seem more grim.
10. Jean Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simulation was required reading for all principal cast and crew.
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The book, which is about hyperreality and the imitation of real-world processes, can be found in Neo's apartment as well. It, along with Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, Karl Marx, Franz Kafka, and Homer's Odyssey, were all hugely influential on the film.
11. Will Smith was approached to play Neo.
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"Welcome to the real Will." He turned it down to star in Wild Wild West instead. Good choice? Maybe not, but Smith has since admitted that it was for the best because he didn't actually understand the script at the time.
12. Other actors considered to play Neo were Nicolas Cage, Tom Cruise, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
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Thankfully, Keanu won out. He's really the only Neo we can imagine. #canttouchthis
13. "Neo" is an anagram for "one."
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Which is fitting, really, since Neo is the One.
14. The opening sequence took six months of training to prepare for and four days to shoot.
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15. Carrie-Anne Moss (Trinity) twisted her ankle during filming, but kept it a secret.
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She was afraid that if she told someone, they would re-cast her, so she kept it hidden.
16. The glyphs on the screens consist of reversed letters, numbers, and Japanese katakana characters.
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17. Given Neo's choice, the Wachowskis have both said they would choose the blue pill.
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18. Gary Oldman and Samuel L. Jackson were both considered for the role of Morpheus.
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19. The film's legacy began to show within 3 years of its release.
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By mid-2002, the Bullet Time sequence had been parodied in over 20 films.
20. When Carrie-Anne Moss saw the first cut, it was the first time she'd ever seen herself in a movie.
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21. Richard Walker, founder of sunglass company Blinde, competed against Ray-Ban and Arnette to design the glasses for the movie.
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He personally designed custom sunglasses for each character based simply on their unique names in order to get the job. Once he got it, Walker was flown into Sydney to make custom glasses for the duration of filming.

British actor Eddie Redmayne has been gifted a portrait of himself as his Jupiter Ascending space villain Balem after complaining directors Andy and Lana Wachowski didn't show off his abdominals in the blockbuster. The Oscar nominee was disappointed when he saw the final cut of the film because all the scenes featuring his sculpted abs had been cut, and there was only one blink-and-you'll-miss-it shot left.
He says, "Part of the deal was I had to be ripped and I've never been ripped in my life, so I did that thing that Hollywood actors do of being fed nothing but chicken for months and doing, like, a gazillion stomach crunches... (but) I don't think there's a moment of observing the abs."
Redmayne had hoped to hit the beach as soon as the film wrapped and show off his toned torso, but then he landed the role of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything and had to slim down.
Explaining his story during an appearance on U.S. late-night show Conan on Monday (02Feb15), the actor was presented with a large framed portrait of himself in character.

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Netflix has finally revealed some details about the highly-anticipated new series coming from the Wachowskis. Sens8 will be a 10-episode sci-fi drama starring Naveen Andrews, Daryl Hannah and Stargate Universe‘s Brian J. Smith. Other actors from Gemany, London, and South Korea are also on board.
J. Michael Straczynski is co-showrunner of the series with the famed cinema siblings and he revealed this plot synopsis to Deadline:
“The series follows eight characters around the world who, in the aftermath of a tragic death, find themselves linked to each other mentally and emotionally... They can not only see and talk to each other as though they were in the same place, they have access to each other’s deepest secrets. Not only must they figure out what happened and why and what it means for the future of humanity, they must do so while being hunted by an organization out to capture, kill or vivisect them.”
Sounds pretty, amazingly Wachowskian. And considering the success of pretty much every Netflix series in existence so far, we can expect good things.
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The Matrix directors Lana and Andy Wachowski have triumphed in a copyright lawsuit over the hit movie trilogy. Writer Thomas Althouse launched legal action against the filmmaking siblings, studio Warner Bros. Entertainment, and producer Joel Silver in 2013 claiming the franchise copied aspects of his screenplay The Immortals, which he submitted to Warner Bros. in 1993.
Althouse cited an alleged 118 similarities between the storylines, but claimed to have been unaware of the likeness until he saw the Keanu Reeves films in 2010, 11 years after the first instalment of the franchise hit cinemas. He demanded compensation regarding two sequels in the franchise, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, as well as a portion of the $1.63 billion the films grossed worldwide.
However, in granting a summary judgement, U.S. District Court Judge R. Gary Klausner ruled, "All of Plaintiff's examples are either too general for copyright protection, are scenes a faire (scenes typical of a genre), or are commonly used, unoriginal ideas." Klausner added that any claim that the film concepts shared similarities in plot was unfounded as "the basic premises of the Matrix Trilogy and The Immortals are so different that it would be unreasonable to find their plots substantially similar".

Space dragons, giant planets, Channing Tatum with elf ears. The new trailer for Jupiter Ascending has all of that and then some. The first original film from the Lana and Andy Wachowski since the Matrix trilogy, the film is set in a future where the universe, and the humans who live in it, are ruled by gods. Tatum's character Caine is a hunter who has been sent by the Queen of the Universe to kill Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis), a janitor, who she believes is a threat to her rule. However, once they meet, Caine recognizes that Jupiter has the same perfect genetic makeup as the queen, which means that she could be the next ruler of all things intergalactic... if they can keep her alive long enough to get her to the throne.
None of the trailers realeased for the film so far have taken the time to explain the plot, choosing instead to highlight Jupiter's ability to make bees swirl around her and Eddie Redmayne's planetary infinity pool. The Queen who is so central to the story of Jupiter Ascending is barely made mention of, and there's no hint of what kind of role Sean Bean's character plays, despite being given a decent amount of screentime in the the clip.
The Wachowskis have thus far kept many of the film's details under wraps, so the Internet at large doesn't seem to hold any more answers than the trailers do. While much of this secrecy is likely to keep spoilers from being revealed ahead of the film's release, the lack of details makes the plot look somewhat flimsy. Instead of setting up a compelling story, the trailer gives off the impression that whatever story there is exists mostly as a framing device for all of the crazy effects and big-name stars. However, the lack of answers doesn't make the effects appear any less stunning, or the action seem any less intense, which begs the question: does it actually matter if the plot of Jupiter Ascending is any good?
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Certainly not in terms of attracting audiences to come see it. Based on the the trailer, it's clear that the selling point of the film is the flashy effects, and exciting action sequences rather than any kind of complex plot or intense world-building. It's much more interesting to watch the weird demon-baby/splice-creature climb the walls of the hospital than to sit through the backstory of what it is or why it exists in the first place. Similarly, it's worth cutting down on showcasing why the Queen is after Jupiter in order to highlight all of the stunts and fighting that the film will contain.
In addition to all of the visually stunning effects and intense action sequences that the trailer highlights, Jupiter Ascending also benefit from the presence of big-name stars like Tatum, Kunis, and Bean, all of whom have proved themselves to be big box office draws. Plus, the story, regardless of how well fleshed-out it is, is interesting and original, which will go a long way in terms of attracting audiences. Those who are looking for something different in between the glut of superhero films, sequels and remakes will likely be drawn to Jupiter Ascending, especially since the last time audiences took a chance on an original Wachowski film, they were rewarded with the Matrix trilogy.
But once you've enticed those moviegoers into their seats, you need something to entertain them with, and effects and stunts can go a long way in smoothing over any issues with a film's storyline. Take the Matrix films, for instance: despite the detailed world-building and complexly layered plot, there were plotholes and issues where the storyline was sacrificed in order to create a film that compelling and entertaining, and a few slow-motion fights went along way in keeping the audience happy, and it seems as if Jupiter Ascending would be more than able to do the same.
In the end, filmmakers want to create an experience for their audience. They want to convey a point of view or transport them to another word for a few hours, and that seems to be exactly what the Wachowskis' intention is with this film. If Jupiter Ascending transports us into a new universe, if it lets us experience the rules and limitations of such a universe as if we, too were a part of it, and it gives us a movie-going experience, then the actual story might be less important. The story might just be a framing device that gives us a way into Jupiter's world, but if the time we spend there is memorable and interesting, then the experience is still intact, and we will have gotten our money's worth. The plot of Jupiter Ascending could very well be more rich and layered than a two-minute clip is able to convey, and if we've learned anything from the Wachowskis' films, it's that there's always more there than meets the eye. But if it is just a flimsy frame to hold a more immersive, cinematic experience, that could be just as rewarding.
Jupiter Ascending arrives in theaters on July 18.
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A $300 million (£187.5 million) copyright infringement lawsuit filed against The Matrix directors Lana and Andy Wachowski is heading to trial this summer (14). Scriptwriter Thomas Althouse launched legal action against the filmmaking siblings in January, 2013 amid allegations they copied the ideas for the sci-fi trilogy from his 1992 screenplay for a project called The Immortals.
He claims he submitted The Immortals to executives at Warner Bros. Pictures, the studio behind the franchise, in 1993, but never heard back from movie bosses.
The Hawaiian resident only realised the similarities between the Wachowskis' work and his own script when he checked out the Keanu Reeves films in 2010, 11 years after the first instalment was released, and seven years after the two sequels, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, hit theatres in 2003.
The statute of limitations for the original The Matrix has since passed, so Althouse is now demanding compensation over the two follow-ups, in addition to a cut of the $1.63 billion the movies grossed at the global box office.
Andy and Lana Wachowski, formerly known as Larry, joined forces with fellow defendants at Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and producer Joel Silver to file their own countersuit against Althouse last July (13), with movie executives dismissing the legal action as "frivolous".
The case will now go before a judge on 17 June (14) in a trial which is expected to last up to eight days.

We've been waiting a long time for this one — the first original Wachowski project since the termination of the Matrix trilogy. We've heard only nebulous synopses and contextual tidbits since the project was announced, knowing only (thanks to the Wachowski stamp) that it would be BIG. The Matrix was big. Cloud Atlas was big. V for Vendetta, which the pair helped to pen, was pretty big. And though it spans galaxies and envelops the fate of existence altogether, the first trailer for Jupiter Ascending makes it look surprisingly personal and intimate. But those aren't the only adjectives that come to mind.
It also looks a little bit ridiculous. When embraced, this can work. The imagery of the trailer brings to mind flashy, ornate sci-fi/fantasies, notably the effusively goofy The Fifth Element. But is this what the Wachowskis want?
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Fans of The Matrix movies alone might be shocked at the zaniness inherent in the frames of the Jupiter Ascending trailer. The dark and stern story of Neo rarely, if ever, dripped into a state of levity. But Cloud Atlas was imbued with a great deal of merriment — the epic film's lighter segments ranged from sappy sentimentality to outright wacky humor. And since stars Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis are both known as skilled comedic actors, we're inclined to believe that the brow-raising character of the new trailer is wholly intended.
At least, we hope.
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I know: it's hard to keep your finger on the blurring lines of human sexual identity. And why should you? Labels don't matter anymore, and the LGBTQIA acronym keeps expanding. But that "T" has been there a mighty long time. So why is the interest in Trans style suddenly peaking again?
The fashion world has always had its share of cult trans models. Stephen Sprouse's trans-muse Teri Toye caused ripples in Lower Manhattan in the '80s, and the mind-blowingly beautiful Andrej Pejic has stomped both men's and women's runways in the here and now. But those are anomalies, right?
Don't tell American Apparel. They just rallied a "transexy" cattle call in their Chelsea Store over Instagram. Publicity? Sure. Pandering to the LGBT customer? They chose the Chelsea location, didn't they?
But maybe we are at a tipping point. Bradley Manning's gender reassignment is only raising eyebrows because he wants the government to pony up for it. And Lana Wachowski's transition barely raised eyebrows at all.
So maybe American Apparel has it right, maybe it's just time. I can buy that. America is nothing if not surprising, and everyone looks good in a tee shirt.
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Filmmaker Andy Wachowski and his transgender sister Lana have hit back at claims they stole the premise for their popular The Matrix sequels, insisting the full trilogy was their own idea. Scriptwriter Thomas Althouse accused the Wachowskis of copying the ideas for The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions from his screenplay and launched legal action against the pair.
He alleges the siblings ripped off his script for The Immortals, which he claims he submitted to executives at Warner Bros. Pictures, the studio behind the franchise, in 1993 and is demanding $300 million (£200 million), in addition to a percentage of the $1.63 billion the trilogy grossed at the global box office.
Now Andy and Lena Wachowski have filed a countersuit against Althouse's claim, insisting the entirety of both movies was their work and that Althouse's lawsuit should be dismissed. The siblings also want him to pay their legal fees, according to TMZ.com.

Tom Hanks is teaming up with Tom Tykwer, who co-directed Hanks in 2012's disaster/masterpiece/depends who you ask Cloud Atlas, for another ambitious film project. According to Deadline, Tykwer has adapted Dave Eggers' National Book Award finalist A Hologram for the King for the big screen, and Hanks is set to take the starring role.
Now, Deadline describes the book and film's premise by writing, "The story involves a struggling businessman who, after failing in America, heads to a rising Saudi Arabian city for a last ditch attempt to stave off foreclosure, pay his daughter's college tuition, and do something memorable." But fans of the novel (a group to which I belong) know that the truth of the matter is that not a whole lot happens in this book. In fact, I'd say about 85% of the story consists of Hanks' character-to-be sitting and sweating in a tent in Saudi Arabia while he wonders when lunch and a working WiFi signal will appear. Sometimes, in the more exciting moments, our protagonist walks from the tent to a neighboring office building.
Sounds like a scintillating movie, don't it?
In all fairness, Eggers' novel, while rather stationary, is a wonderful slice of life that deftly evokes a place and mood — both of which can be described as stifling. While Cloud Atlas, Tykwer's joint venture with Lana and Andy Wachowski, was generally acknowledged to be too ambitious an undertaking to be entirely successful, his smaller scale Run Lola Run is a cult favorite.
And how do we think Hanks will fare as our hero, Alan Clay? Well, we know he's good at being alone.
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Summary

One half of the fraternal filmmaking duo known as the Wachowski Brothers, Larry Wachowski and sibling Andy were the creative minds behind the "Matrix" trilogy (2000, 2003), one of the most imaginative and influential film series in Hollywood history. Conceived from a childhood steeped in fantasy novels and comic books, the "Matrix" films combined martial arts action with literary and cinematic references and a wide array of world religious and philosophical tenets. The result was a massively popular trio of films that largely redefined the action genre and CGI effects as a whole for a new generation of moviegoers. While the brothers continued to release big-screen epics in its wake, including "V for Vendetta" (2005) and "Ninja Assassin" (2009), Larry Wachowski earned as much press for his personal life, which included a relationship with a dominatrix and rumored gender reassignment, coupled with a new name, Lana Wachowski. Despite the gossip, he and brother Andy remained two of the most successful and mysterious genre directors in Hollywood.

Education

Name

Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

Bard College

Notes

"You talk to people and they always ask, 'Why are action movies so dumb?' We hope people are more interested in a more intelligent approach. We hope they are not just interested in what we call McDonald's movies, the standard you-know-what-you-get [films]." – Wachowski quoted in USA Today, April 5, 1999

"Maybe we'll just retire with a two-film retrospective. We're just so tired at this point." – Warchowski quoted in The New York Times, April 5, 1999

After finishing "Speed Racer" (2008), Wachowski underwent hormone treatments and a sex-change operation to transform into a woman. The filmmaker also changed her name to Lana.